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Chakashiya Restaurant
CONTRIBUTED BY ELIZA GROFF There is a new little secret tucked away on Highway 6 on the way to Maeda Point. If you live in Yomitan, I guarantee that you want to know more about it. It is an Okinawan...
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Dining Café KARI-YA
CONTRIBUTED BY ANTHONY CAMINA The atmosphere surrounding Kin Town outside of Camp Hansen has experienced a much-needed rebirth from a wild, single service member party town to a laid back area that now...
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Toytoy Bakery
CONTRIBUTED BY ELIZA GROFF Like any lady, I’m a sucker for chocolate. And boy have I found a great place to get my fix! After a tasty meal at Chakashiya, the restaurant next door, I stop to pick up the...
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Bise Tree Road: Fuku Ippuku Chaya Bike Rentals
Editor’s Note: We have another post all about Bise Village, but for more specifics about bike rentals, keep reading below! CONTRIBUTED BY CASEY ANNIS Bise Fukugi Tree Road is a little hidden gem just...
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Ishigaki Island on a Budget
CONTRIBUTED BY ANABELA DA SILVA JENKINS Traveling in Japan on a budget might seem challenging, but with a little planning and a good dose of adventure it is very well possible. If you are on a budget...
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2014 Okinawa Hai Calendar – October 2014
The 2014 calendar was available for purchase in November and December of 2013, and for a limited time in the early months of 2014. Next year’s calendar will be available for purchase beginning next...
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Shishimai (Lion Dance) Festival
CONTRIBUTED BY SHELL BURGER When my husband first mentioned going to a Shishimai Festival I was a little hesitant, especially having a very wiggly and talkative 3-year-old. After doing some research, I...
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Lost in the Right Direction: Thoughts on Moving to Okinawa
CONTRIBUTED BY DEVAN KACZYNSKI/ARCHIVE PHOTO Whenever I’ve moved to a new place, I knew that if I needed to, I could go “home” within some short airplane hours. Moving here is different, and I should...
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Okinawa Getaway: Forest Villa
CONTRIBUTED BY CASEY ANNIS Does a quiet, tranquil get away sound nice? We thought so too. So we set out to find “Forest Villa,” hidden in the mountains of Motobu in Northern Okinawa. When we arrived,...
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Oodomari Beach (On Ikei Island)
CONTRIBUTED BY KRISTIN LITTLE On a quest to find a snorkel spot for our first time snorkeling, and a place that was also safe for our 8-year-old, we found Oodomari Beach (Mama San Beach). Located on...
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Kintsuki Restaurant (Izakaya)
CONTRIBUTED BY EMILY BUREK Menu – click to enlarge When you live off base it’s nice to find a place to eat near home. Kintsuki Restaurant is a quaint little place just across from Kadena gate 4 and...
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Why Pennies and Yennies Matter (aka Exchange Rates for Dummies)
CONTRIBUTED BY MATTHEW MATLOCK Many of us a have jar full of pennies (or yennies) sitting on our counters or desks at this very moment, but when was the last time you actually thought about how much...
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Swim to Adaga Island
CONTRIBUTED BY WILL MILLER After months of exploring Okinawa, my wife and I were looking for something beyond a typically tropical island beach, a typically scenic waterfall, a typically good scuba...
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Songbird Café
Editor’s Note: This is the location formerly known as Café & Aroma T’s, once a popular restaurant in Yomitan. We have leared that T’s closed, and Songbird Café has opened in the same building....
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On-Base Housing, Camp Kinser: Kinser Towers
CONTRIBUTED BY STEPHANIE GONZALEZ What military base is your home located on? Camp Kinser What area of the island is your home located on (i.e. North Island, Central Island, South Island)? South...
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Dukes Preschool Center
CONTRIBUTED BY AMI EIMERS Name of School: Dukes Preschool Center Address: 769 B Owan, Yomitan, Nakagami District, Okinawa, Japan Phone: 080-4723-1059 Email: dukespreschool@gmail.com Website:...
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Kumejima Island, Part 2
Editor’s Note: This is the second installment of Quentin’s trip to Kumejima. Click here to read Part 1. CONTRIBUTED BY QUENTIN RICHARDSON With only four and a half hours of daylight left, I had to rush...
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Shikui-Shisa
CONTRIBUTED BY ANTHONY CAMINA For those in the market for unique Okinawan souvenirs, there is new pottery shop along Highway 329 in Yaka that is worth checking out. The studio is called Shikui-Shisa...
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On Base Housing, Kadena: Terrace Heights
CONTRIBUTED BY KRISTENA YEAGER What military base is your home located on? Kadena Air Base What area of the island is your home located on (i.e. North Island, Central Island, South Island)? Central...
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Eye Care: Royal Optical Co.
CONTRIBUTED BY ROSALIND ZICCARDI Royal Optical Co, owned and serviced by Shigeo Oshiro-san, was a fantastic find for me when I needed new glasses. I got the glasses I wanted, expert advice and service,...
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